The shocker announcement from Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) president Mayawati came on Wednesday at a press conference. She said, “Keeping in mind the current political situation, I have decided not to contest Lok Sabha polls.”
Mayawati Kumari, icon for India’s low-caste Dalits and a four-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has decided to not contest for Lok Sabha polls.
The elections will be held in many phases from 11 April and results will be announced on 23 May.
At a press conference on Wednesday, Ms Mayawati said she would not stand for a seat in the lower house of parliament, before adding that she can “win a Lok Sabha election whenever I want”.
“Keeping in mind the current political situation, I have decided not to contest Lok Sabha polls,” she told reporters.
“I can’t let the alliance suffer at any cost. Winning more seats is more important than my victory.”
Ms Mayawati’s BSP has allied itself with the Samajwadi Party (SP), a regional arch-rival ahead of the polls. They are part of a wider national alliance (coalition) against the ruling BJP.
Regional parties like Mayawati’s BSP are expected to be the kingmakers, particularly if there is no clear majority for any one party, reported BBC.
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